SAM Featured in CNN’s Sanjay Gupta’s Documentary, “Weed 2”
March 12, 2014 – [Washington, DC] – Today, Smart Approaches to Marijuana Co-Founder, Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy released the following statement about “Weed 2,” Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s CNN Documentary that featured Congressman Kennedy:
“As shown on Dr. Gupta’s documentary, SAM believes that marijuana contains medical value. We know that the plant’s non-smoked components, whether in synergy or in isolation, can be medically beneficial for those with serious illnesses. I stand by my remarks. But I also stand by the remarks that did not make the final cut of CNN’s piece. Nothing was included by CNN that discussed the new Tobacco industry emerging in Colorado via commercialization and legalization.
“It’s hard to fathom that a one-hour documentary on marijuana did not go into more detail about the problems in Colorado with increased positive workplace marijuana tests, driving accidents, child hospitalization, and new 90% THC wax consumption.
“Furthermore, Dr. Gupta should be much clearer about his opposition to full legalization, which he has expressed to my colleagues and me several times recently, and he should also make a sharp division between the research separating smoked marijuana plant material and the data showing the medical efficacy of marijuana’s non-smoked components.
“For years, legalization advocates have admitted that they would ‘use medical marijuana as a red herring to give marijuana a good name.’ And today’s state-based medical marijuana system is broken and not endorsed by respected bodies like the American Medical Association. Peer-reviewed research shows that the average medical marijuana user is a 30-something white male without cancer, HIV, glaucoma, MS, or any terminal illness. In the states with the biggest programs – Colorado and California – “medical” marijuana candies and cookies are very cheaply sold and widely available.
“We should not be fooled into thinking marijuana will simultaneously cure cancer, end seizures, fund our government through revenues, and end crime. Yes, there are components contained in marijuana that have medical value, but it is not a panacea for all of our problems.”